Eyeglass-receptacle.



G. J. KIRBY. EYBGLASS RBGBPTAGLB. APPLICATION IILED'JAN.11. 1910. d

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G. J. KIRBY. BYEGLASS REGEPTAG'LE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 11. 1910. 991,323.

Patented May 2, 1911.

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G. J. KIRBY.-

EYEGLASS REGEPTAGLE.

APPLICATION FILED-JAN. 1L. 1910.

991,323. Patented May 2,1911.

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EYEGLASS-RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentamt-ay e, 191i.

Application filed January 11, 1910. Serial No. 537,468.

To all whom it may concer/n.

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. KIRBY, a citizen of the United States, residing at ViHimantic, in the county. of Windham and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Eyeglass-Receptacles; and 1 do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to receptacles and while shown and especially adapted for use as a spectacle or eye-glass case is not limited to such specific construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide in a receptacle having a cover a spring disposed wholly or largely upon the exterior of the receptacle and adapted to hold the cover in either open or closed position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a receptacle having an exterior spring so proportioned and positioned relative to the receptacle that when closed substantially a smooth outer surface is presented upon the receptacle.

lWith these and other objects in view, the invention comprises cert-ain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

1n the drawings z-Figure 1 is a top plan view of a receptacle and cover made in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a view in rear edge elevation of the receptacle and cover as shown at Fig. 1 but with the spring removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the receptacle and spring as at line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a view similar to Fig. 3 except that the cover is shown open. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a receptacle and cover, the receptacle being substantially the same as that shown at Figs. 1 to 11 inclusive but with a slightly modified spring. Fig. 6 is a view of the embodiment shown at Fig. 5 seen in rear edge elevation as along arrow 6 of such figure. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view through the receptacle and spring showing the cover closed. Fig. 8 is a similar transverse, sectional view showing the cover open. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the spring as shown at Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive. Fig. 10 is a top plan view of a similar cover and receptacle showing the still different embodiment of the spring. Fig. 11 is a view in rear edge elevation of the embodiment shown at and taken along arrow 11 of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view ofthe embodiment shown at Figs. 10 and 11 taken through the spring. Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 but showing the cover open. Fig. 14: is a perspective view of the form of spring shown at Figs. 10 to 13 inclusive.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The invention comprises a receptacle body 10 of any approved form, size, shape and construction, shown in the drawings as of proper conformation for holding spectacles with a cover member 11 hinged thereon by means of a pintle 13. In the construction of receptacles, especially of eye-glass receptacles, it is found that it is desirable to extend the pintle throughout the entire length of the hinge both for convenience and economy of manufacture and for strength of completed article. To accomplish the use of such integral pintle it has heretofore been found necessary to employ a spring interior of the body and cover. In the present invention the pintle 13 is shown continuous or integral extending throughout the length of the case but it is to be understood that such continuous or integral pintle is not essential to the invention as the same would be accomplished by interrupting the pintle midway, in which case the springs here shown would simply be to the rear of the pintle line which is equivalent to being to the rear of the pintle.

As shown at Figs. 1 to t inclusive the cover member 11 is provided with a depression or furrow 14 extending transversely of the cover and the body provided with a similar furrow 15 serving as a continuation of the furrow 14e of the cover, the same construction of body being also shown at Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive.

As shown the metal surrounding the pintle at the rear is preferably cut away at the rear side of the pintle to form a continuation of the furrows 14: and 15 so that the spring 16 may be disposed within such furrows and bear directly against the pintle 13. The cutting away of the metal at the pintle is not essential but is simply employed as a convenient means for throwing the spring directly into engagement with the pintle or the pintle line and to form a depression to contain the spring.

At the extremity of the furrow 14 an opening 17 is formed in the cover 11 and a spring 1G is provided with a hooked end 1S to engage within such opening 17. The receptacle is also provided with an opening 19 formed at the extremity of the furrow 15 and the spring 16 is provided at its end opposite the hook 1S with a similar hook 20 engaging within such opening 19.

At Figs. 3, 4, 7, 8, 12 and 13 an outer covering 21 is indicated which is, as usually employed, of leather, or any convenient or ordinary covering secured to the receptacle and cover member, which are usually constructed of metal.

At Figs. 5 to 9 inclusive the spring 1G is shown disposed within the cover 11, an opening 22 being provided so t-hat the spring may pass through the cover above the pintle and extend in a'curve within such cover. Se that no part of the spring 16 shall extend above the outer surface of the receptacle or cover a bar 23 to which the hook 18 is se` cured is depressed below the outer surface so that the hook 18 has its outer surface substantially Hush with the outer surface of the cover memberk 11. In some cases it is found that a simple U-shaped spring, such as shown at Figs. 1 to 4, does not have sufficient resiliency to insure a long life. For that purpose the spring, as shown at Figs. 5 ,to 9 inclusive, is employed having an eXtra or additional curve whereby a greater length of material and consequent greater resiliency and life is secured.

As'shown at Figs. 10 to 14, the spring is composed of wire, and in this inst-ance the body of the case 10 is preferably provided only with grooves 15 to receive the strands of wire instead of the wide groove 15 as shown at Figs. 1 to 9 inclusive. The cover 11 is also provided with an opening 24 to permit the passage of the spring which is provided with coils 25 adding greater resiliency to the spring than is secured by the simple curvature even as shown at Figs. 1 to 4 or as shown at Figs. 5 to 9.' It will be noted, however, that irrespective of the embodiment the basic feature remains that the spring is curved about the exterior of the body of the receptacle and ,contained within the depression formed in the material of the body and that it falls to the rear of the pintle or pintle line of the hinge, and that it also presents a substantially plain surface in the cover member.

What I claim is 1. A receptacle embodying a body and cover hinged thereto, said body and cover being formed with a recess proportioned to receive a spring engaging at its opposite ends the cover and body and adapted when the cover is closed to lie within the recess and within the lines of the receptacle.

2. A receptacle embodying a body and cover hinged thereto, said cover and body being provided with adjoining recesses, a spring engaging at its opposite ends the cover and body and disposed upon the exterior thereof and .formed to lie when the cover is closed within the recess and within the lines of t-he receptacle.

3. A receptacle embodying a body and cover hinged thereto by a continuous longitudinally disposed pintle, said cover and body being provided with a continuous recess, a. spring engaging at its opposite ends the body and cover and adapted when the cover is closed to lie within the recess and within the lines of the receptacle.

4. A receptacle embodying a body and cover hinged thereto by a continuons pintle, said cover and body being provided with a continuons recess, a spring disposed upon the exterior of the receptacle and engaging at its opposite ends the cover and body and proportioned to lie when the cover is closed wit-hin the recess and within the lines of the receptacle.

5. A receptacle embodying cover hinged thereto, a continuons recess formed in the body and cover, a spring disposed upon the exterior of the receptacle, and formed to lie when closed within the recess and within the lines of the receptacle against the pintle line and to extend beyond the lines of the receptacle when the cover is open.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE J. KIRB Y.

a body and lVitnesses E. T. FnNwioK, E. P. CRUMP.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

